Chapter 771: The Lord of Tianwei Sword Domain
"Although using this portion of divine crystals would violate the ancestral prohibition, the gains are so enormous and the risks so minimal that I can find no reason to refuse. This is arguably the most profitable transaction of my life. To miss it would make me unworthy of calling myself a merchant."
As the voice fell, a purple-glittering ring appeared in Zi Ji's hand. He placed the purple crystal ring before Yun Che's eyes: "Inside here are forty jin of Purple Vein Divine Crystals. You can still back out now, if you wish."
Yun Che did not reply. With a push of his palm, twenty Overlord Pills flew toward Zi Ji. At the same time, the purple crystal ring in Zi Ji's hand was drawn over, landing in his own grasp. He casually inspected it—inside were exactly forty jin of Purple Vein Divine Crystals, not a single bit less, nor a single bit more.
"Trading with Senior Zi is always so refreshing." Yun Che put away the purple crystal ring. "But please, Senior Zi, don’t forget: these twenty precious pills are only for auction, not for personal possession."
Another forty jin of Purple Vein Divine Crystals in hand, plus the fifty jin already stored in the Heavenly Poison Pearl… Thus, the seventy jin of Purple Vein Divine Crystals required by Mo Li was now complete!
The two profound pills had also been obtained, and their grade far exceeded the Overlord Pills Mo Li had originally mentioned—they were Lord Xuan Pills, a full realm higher.
What remained now was only the Netherworld Brahma Flower!
"Heh, that’s only natural." Zi Ji’s profound energy swept over each Overlord Pill as well. He carefully stored them away, a smile on his face… This was indeed the most cost-effective transaction he had ever undertaken. Without the slightest effort, he gained at least twenty jin of Purple Vein Divine Crystals, and the cycle was as short as a few days.
The "magnitude" of their transaction was enormous, yet it was completed in just a few words, and both sides were extremely satisfied.
Carrying ninety jin of Purple Vein Divine Crystals—this quantity was an absolute astronomical figure, whether in the Illusory Demon Realm or the Tian Xuan Continent. It definitely exceeded the reserves of any of the Four Sacred Grounds! Yun Che knew full well that obtaining so many Purple Vein Divine Crystals in such a short time relied not on his own strength, but on the utterly heaven-defying ability of the Heavenly Poison Pearl.
However, in terms of reserves alone, Yun Che was not the foremost in the Tian Xuan Continent… The one with the greatest store of Purple Vein Divine Crystals was now the Fenghuang God Sect!
The death of the Phoenix God and the hundred jin of Purple Vein Divine Crystals—these were two secrets that the Fenghuang God Sect had to guard with their lives! Leaking either one could invite immense disaster. That was why, back then, the Fenghuang God Sect went to great lengths, even launching a brutal war against the Cang Feng Empire, to cover it up.
"Very well!" The Sea Emperor was evidently quite satisfied with this transaction as well. His ever-rigid face even relaxed a little. "Palace Master Yun, you are indeed an extraordinary and remarkable person. Since the transaction is done, Zi Ji, you may now take Yun Che to the Slay Moon Demon Cave."
"However, Palace Master Yun, I must remind you: the seal of the Slay Moon Demon Cave will only remain open for a hundred breaths! After a hundred breaths, the seal will forcibly close, with absolutely no possibility of reopening. So, no matter the outcome once you enter the Slay Moon Demon Cave, you must leave within a hundred breaths, or you will be trapped inside forever! Moreover, the yin energy within the cave is extremely heavy. It not only severely suppresses profound energy but also rapidly consumes lifespan. Don’t even think about your current strength—even if I were trapped inside, I would be dead or crippled in less than a day. Waiting until the seal reopens five hundred years later to escape is a complete pipe dream."
"Rest assured, I will accompany him into the demon cave. We won’t need to wait a hundred breaths—once fifty breaths have passed, I will force him to leave." Zi Ji said with a chuckle.
"That’s best. Go now!"
……………………
Yun Che and Zi Ji left the Sea Emperor’s Hall together. Feng Xue’er, who had been waiting outside, quickly came to Yun Che’s side: "Brother Yun, are you alright?"
"Of course I’m fine." Yun Che smiled and took Feng Xue’er’s hand, then gestured toward Zi Ji: "This is Senior Zi Ji of the Supreme Sea Palace."
"Feng Xue’er of the Fenghuang God Sect greets Senior Zi."
Zi Ji nodded and smiled, his expression somewhat peculiar: "The name of Princess Xue has been renowned for a long time. To see you in person is a great fortune."
"Xue’er, I need to go to the Slay Moon Demon Cave with Senior Zi. You should go to your imperial father first. I’ll be back soon." Yun Che said to Feng Xue’er.
"Right now?" Feng Xue’er knew that Yun Che’s main purpose in coming to the Supreme Sea Palace was to enter the Slay Moon Demon Cave, but she hadn’t expected it to be so soon. Without a second thought, she said, "Then of course I’ll go with Brother Yun. I promised my senior masters and aunts that I must protect Brother Yun at all times."
"Alright then." Yun Che had expected this outcome and didn’t try to dissuade her. He squeezed her little hand a bit tighter and said with a serious face, "But there might be unknown dangers inside. You must listen to me and absolutely never risk yourself to protect me."
"I know. I always listen to Brother Yun the most." Feng Xue’er said with a giggle.
Watching their closeness, Zi Ji felt a bit complicated. He raised his hand and said, "The Slay Moon Demon Cave is very close to our sea palace. It’s located one hundred and fifty li directly south from here. Yun Che, if there’s nothing else to prepare, let’s set off now."
"Good! I’ll trouble Senior Zi to lead the way!"
Just as the three of them floated into the air, a figure rushed toward them from afar, seemingly in a hurry. Yun Che paused his steps and called out, "Yuanba! Why are you here?"
Whoosh!
Xia Yuanba charged over with a gust of wind, then took a deep breath and said, "My master has settled down over there. I had nothing else to do, so I came to find Brother-in-law. Eh? Mr. Zi? Are you… going somewhere together?"
Years ago, during the Seven Nation Ranking Battle, when Gu Cang had brought Xia Yuanba to Shenhuang City, the first place they visited was the Black Moon Merchant Guild, and the person they called on was Zi Ji. So although Xia Yuanba had never been to the Supreme Sea Palace, he recognized Zi Ji.
"To the Slay Moon Demon Cave. Yuanba, want to come along?" Yun Che knew that Xia Yuanba had rushed over so urgently out of concern for his safety. Now that they were going to the Slay Moon Demon Cave, Xia Yuanba would definitely insist on following him, and there was no way to shoo him away.
"Ah? Right now? Of course I want to! I really want to see what it looks like inside." Xia Yuanba said excitedly.
"Ah." Zi Ji shook his head with a smile, not sure what he was sighing about. "Let’s go. Be sure to watch out for danger when we get there."
The existence of the Supreme Sea Palace was precisely to guard the Slay Moon Demon Cave, so it naturally wasn’t too far away. One hundred and fifty li was a very short distance for the four of them.
Before long, they had arrived at the southern edge of the sea palace.
A figure appeared ahead of them.
Even though there were still several li between them, Yun Che, Feng Xue’er, Xia Yuanba, and Zi Ji all slowed down simultaneously, their expressions shifting slightly.
"That person… such an astonishing aura! Even from this far away, it makes it hard for me to breathe." Xia Yuanba took a light breath and said in a low voice, "He seems even more powerful than my master!"
As the distance closed, the figure’s silhouette became clearer. He wore simple green robes, was tall and slender, with black hair tied up and reaching halfway down his back. He floated ten zhang above the sea surface, letting the sea wind howl around him, yet not a single inch of his clothes or hair moved. Even the sea surface beneath his feet was completely without ripple.
It was as if the space he occupied had been completely sealed.
He remained completely still, with no profound energy emanating from him. But as Yun Che and the others drew nearer, a silent pressure, like increasingly thick iron plates, pressed heavily against their chests.
"Senior Zi, who is this person?" Yun Che asked in a low voice. The pressure this person was emitting silently definitely surpassed that of the Ming Wang he had faced in the Jinwu Thunder Flame Valley!
Zi Ji did not reply directly but instead called out forward: "Lord of the Sword Domain, what brings you the pleasure of watching the sea alone here today? Could it be that you have recently gained some divine insight?"
Lord of the Sword Domain!
These four words caused Yun Che, Feng Xue’er, and Xia Yuanba to be deeply shaken.
"He is the Sword Lord of the Tian Wei Sword Domain… Xuanyuan Wentian!" Xia Yuanba exclaimed in a low voice.
"…" Yun Che clenched his fists slowly, tightening them. After a long while, he loosened them bit by bit.
Tian Wei Sword Domain… the direct cause of his parents being crippled and his grandfather dying tragically! It was also the Tian Wei Sword Domain that led to Xiao Yun’s biological father being killed, his mother committing suicide, and Xiao Lie suffering in bitterness for over twenty years…
Back then, the tragedy of his and Xiao Yun’s families—the Ming Wang was the conspirator behind the scenes, while the Tian Wei Sword Domain was the executioner of it all!!
The green-robed man slowly turned around, revealing a somewhat thin, unremarkable face. His gaze swept over the four of them, and he gave a faint smile: "So it’s Mr. Zi."
After just a short sentence, his gaze fixed directly on Yun Che.
"If I’m not mistaken, the one to Mr. Zi’s right should be the Yun Che who has recently shaken the Tian Xuan Continent."
Yun Che: "…"
"Heh, indeed. I never thought that a figure as extraordinary as the Lord of the Sword Domain would pay such attention to a junior." Zi Ji said flatly.
"Naturally." Xuanyuan Wentian’s calm face showed a meaningful faint smile, still gazing directly at Yun Che: "As the most outstanding figure among the current younger generation, Palace Master Yun, please be sure to attend the Demon Sword Assembly in three days. Without you, the assembly would surely lose much of its luster."
Yun Che: "…?"
"It seems Mr. Zi and Palace Master Yun have important matters to attend to. I won’t delay you further. Please go ahead."
Xuanyuan Wentian wore an enigmatic faint smile on his face, his body slowly rising into the air. Then, with a flicker, he had already headed far off in the direction of the Supreme Sea Palace, without asking what they were going to do… as if he had no interest at all.
"He is the Sword Lord of the Tian Wei Sword Domain—Xuanyuan Wentian. I never expected to encounter him here."
Zi Ji’s tone was quite casual. As his voice fell, he soared into the air and continued flying south.
Yun Che’s brow furrowed, and his heart and soul grew heavy. After a moment of silence, he muttered in his mind, "Mo Li, during this time at the Supreme Sea Palace, I might need to rely on your power… I have a feeling something is off."
"Hmph!" Mo Li gave a faint, cold snort. "If I don’t want you dead, ten thousand Xuanyuan Wentians couldn’t kill you. What I’m more curious about is why you made such a losing deal with the Supreme Sea Palace?"
"Because ever since I came to this Supreme Sea Palace, I’ve felt an inexplicable unease." Yun Che said in a heavy tone. "I’m afraid that if I don’t get it soon, there might be some unforeseen event during the Demon Sword Assembly. And just now, the way Xuanyuan Wentian looked at me… made me feel like I had no secrets before him."
"I hope I’m overthinking it… but no matter what, I need to be more careful."
……………………
"Father, the Ghost Fiend Poison Immortal has arrived."
The speaker was a young man in green robes, with a thin face. His features and build were quite similar to Xuanyuan Wentian’s.
The person standing before him was none other than Xuanyuan Wentian, who had just returned to the sea palace.
"Very good." Xuanyuan Wentian nodded faintly. "I hope his skill with planting gu poison matches his reputation. If he’s merely all talk and no substance, with no value for exploitation, then there’s no need for him to remain in this world."
"Would Father like to see him now?" the young man asked.
Xuanyuan Wentian did not agree immediately, but instead said slowly, "That Yun Che has not disappointed me. He is already in this sea palace. I just met him."
The young man’s head shot up, a dangerous smile appearing on his face: "That’s wonderful."
"For the past hundred years, I have been preparing for the matter of the demon sword. I originally planned to unseal the demon sword and then step into the Illusory Demon Realm to seize the Lunhui Jing. I never expected that it would deliver itself to me right at this time of the demon sword’s unsealing. Heaven truly aids me!" Xuanyuan Wentian looked up at the sky, smiling silently.
"Does the Lunhui Jing truly hide the ‘Secret of Divine Xuan’?" the young man asked.
"Secret of Divine Xuan?" Xuanyuan Wentian narrowed his eyes, smiling faintly. "That was merely something concocted by the Ming Wang of the Illusory Demon Realm to use us. Heh, that Ming Wang probably still naively believes he is brilliantly clever, having successfully used us through his fabricated secret of the Lunhui Jing to achieve his ambitions, unaware that if I hadn’t fanned the flames back then, the other three Sacred Grounds wouldn’t have so easily gone along with his wish to force their way into the Illusory Demon Realm."
"Since the Secret of Divine Xuan is false, why is Father still so determined to obtain the Lunhui Jing?" the young man asked cautiously.
"I once asked the demon sword about the Lunhui Jing. It told me that the Lunhui Jing is a 'Mystic Heaven Supreme Treasure,' something even the gods of the ancient era sought to possess. Though I don’t know exactly what abilities it holds, anything that even gods desire must be millions of times superior to the so-called 'Secret of Divine Xuan'!"
"It was always something I intended to obtain after unsealing the demon sword. Now that it has delivered itself to me, how could I refuse such a gift?!"
"Wendao, these matters are secrets known only to us father and son." Xuanyuan Wentian turned his gaze to his son. "And this is the sea palace, not the sword domain. Do not mention another word."
"I understand!"